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December 2016 //

Canadian Government Executive /

9

Program Evaluation

Evaluation Goals:

T

he non-profit sector is operat-

ing within an era of increased

accountability, both vertical

and lateral. It is part of good

governance. At one point or another, non-

profits must explain how they will ensure

that project goals are being met, for the

sake of their funders or accreditors (verti-

cal accountability). Moreover, non-profit

health organizations exist to meet the

needs of the public, and to improve their

health and wellness. Planned, effective

evaluation audits (lateral accountability)

help organizations improve this commit-

ment towards the public and the people

they serve. Unfortunately, consistent, high

quality evaluation is not always common

practice among non-profit agencies.

How is an Evaluation Audit

Useful?

The term “evaluation audit,” first coined by

Ernest House of the University of Colorado

in 1987, represents a systematic review of

an organization’s evaluation activities. As a

quality improvement initiative, the review

is used to measure the level of compliance

between pre-defined evaluation policy or

standards and practice at that organiza-

tion. Such a process assesses the efficiency

of the management system, and can vali-

date the reach, relevancy, effectiveness,

efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the

system without incurring additional risk

to any users or staff. It can also identify the

unique drivers of efficient program evalu-

ation practices.

Miranda Saroli,

AKM Alamgir,

Morris Beckford,

Sonja Nerad,

Axelle Janczur

Implementing an Evaluation Audit Practice in a Toronto Non-Profit Agency